Machine for moistening and sealing envelops.



m. GSLOQU. Patented lune 5, won.

F. .1. WILKES. MACHINE FOB IMHSTENING AND SEALING ENVELOPS. (Application filed June 14, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Allarney g; INVE Y 101a WITNESSES No. 65!,090. Patented June 5, I900.

F. J. WILKES MACHINE FOB MOISTENI NG AND SEALING ENVELOPS.

(Application filedj'une 14, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES NVENTOR reservoir with wa tei-ja funnel 2 may ,50 ployed, said funnel being supported by or "ATEs FREDERICK-J; WlLKES, OF PHILAD LPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY

DIRECT AND MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERIcAN SEALING MA- 4 CHINE COMPA Y, OF ALEXANDRIA. VIRGINIA.

Macrame-non AND ssAnme'sNvELoPs.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. 651,090, dated J une5, 1900.

' Application filed June l, 1899.

To 01. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERI'CKJ. WILKES, 1

-10 art to which it 'appertains to make and use the;

same.

My invention relates to an improvement in machines formoisteningand sealing envelops, one ObJGCl) of the Invention being to improve i 5 and simplify various features of construction of envelop-sealing machines and'toproducm a'inachine ofthe class specified which shall be efiectual and accurate in the performance of its functions.

A further object is'to so construct and ar-' range moistening devices that the moisture will be applied, in such manner and quantity as to prevent the outer face of the flap of the .envelop becoming wet or dampened. 7

A further object is to so construct theapparatus that envelope of any size can be'efiectuallysealed without necessity for adjustment of any part to accommodate envelopsof difierent sizes. With these objects in view the invent-ion consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinationsandarrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims. v 35 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a plan view illustratinga machine embodying my improvements. Fig. is alongitu'; dinal sectional view. 5 is 5. transverse sectional VlG'W." Figs. 4 and 5 are views of .40 details.

A represents a suitable base, preferably of metal, upon which a water-reservoir B is located, and over said reservoir a platform 0 is secured forthe reception of envelope to be 7 4,5 sealed, oneside of the wall ofthe reservoir being made to project above the plane of the platform to act as a guide 1 for theenvelops.

v To provide simplemeans to): supplying the,

cum

. )W. Serial No- 720,535. (No model.)

made integral witha short-bent pipe 3, adapted'to communicate with a'hole in one wall of the reservoir.

The platform 0 is provided on its under face with divergent guides 4 of a length about equal to the width of the reservoir, and these guides receive and support from the. under side of the platform a wedge-shaped moistene'r D, which is of suflicient length'to mois ten the flap of the largest envelop-in com"- mercial use, but which will with equal efficiency moisten the flap of a very small-en velop. J

The moistener comprisesa flat tapering plate 5 and a convex tapering .plate- 6', se-

ment between them, and within this compartment one end of a wick 7,,of suitable absorbent material, is secured, the other end of said wick being immersed in the water in the The co'nvexplate 6 is provided reservoir. with a number of perforations 8, threugh capillary attraction can escape. The water thus discharged by the wick through the opencurred at-their edgesseas to-form a comps-rt 1. a

which water conducted to themoistener by I ings 8 in the plate 6 will be received bya' covering 9, of felt or similar material, secured over the plate 6, and in this manner the felt covering will be kept sufiiciently saturated 'toefiectually moisten the mucilage on the flap of an envelop, passing under the moistener without unduly, wetting the, flap or per, mitting water to find its way on the outer face thereof. In order to' insure an adequate amount of water to the moistener the end of the wick which is immersed in the water in the reservoir is enlarged and split.

"A plate 10 is disposed over the reservoir directly under the platform 0 and is made with a transverse groove or depression 11,

into which the moistener D projects. The

forward end of the plate 10 preferably prothereof to the groove or depression 11 is curved downwardly in such manner that its jects somewhat beyond the reservoir, and that portion of said plate from the inner end left-hand edge will be lower than the righthand edge to form a folder for the flaps of the envelope. I

;' From the construction and arrangement of ron.

parts above described' it will be seen that when an envelop is presented to the machine with the flap down the flap will engage the curved portion of the plate and bethus folded or pressed up toward the. under face of the platform; As the envelop is forced forward the gummed face of the flap will pass under the moistener, by which it will be bent into the groove or depression 11 in the plate 10, and thus intimate contact between the flap and the moisture and consequent moistening of the flap will be insured. I

After passing the 'Inoistener the envelop will be delivered to sealing-rollers '12- 13, between which it will pass and by means of which. the flap will be tightly pressed against the body ofthe envelop and sealed. v

The lower sealing-roller 12 is at its respective ends in fixed hearings in standards 14 15. The standard 14 at the right-hand side of the machine is much higher than the standard 15 1 at the other ,sid of the machine, and to the top of said standard 14 a cross-head 16 is seing 18, through which the body of a wide en- "velop can pass.

The standard 14 and the depending arm 17 are made with vertical elongated slots 19 for g the reception of journal-boxes 20 for the upper roller 13. The boxes 20 are movably disposed in the slots 19 and are preferably provided in their diametrically-opposite walls with grooves or depressions to receive similarly-shaped enlargements 22 on the walls of the slots 19 for the purpose of preventing lateral displacement of said boxes, The journals of the upper roller have bearings in thelower ends of the boxes 20, and said upper roller normally rests upon the lower roller. The journal-boxes are made hollow or provided with sockets 24, in which coiled springs '25 are disposed, and the sockets may be made to also contain lubricant,.whioh can be fed to the journals of the upper roller through small ducts 26. A cap or head 27 rests upon each coiled springfor the reception of the lower fectually regulated according to thickness of Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of a platform, a plate below the platform having a groove or depression, a moistener attached to the under face of the platform transverse to the path of the envelop and depending therefrom intothe groove or depression in the plate whereby when the flap of an envelop is passed under said moistener, it will enter the groove or depression in the plate and be bent to partially embrace the moistener.

2. In an envelop-sealing machine,i the combination of a platform, a rigid moistener depending from the under face thereof transverse to the path of the envelop, and a folder under the platform and having a depression into which said rigid moistener projects to defiect the flap of anenvelop and cause it to partially embrace said moistener. V

1 3. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination of-a platform'and a vertical envelopguide at one side thereof, a moistener'dep'ending. from the under face of said platform transverse to thepatli of the envelop, a plate under the platform having a depression into which said moistener projects, the portion of the plate between said depression andthe inner end of the plate beingcurved downwardly in'adiagonal direction to forms. folder.

l 4. In an envelop-sealing machine, the com bination with a supporthaving guides, of a moistener-mounted in said guides, said moistener comprising two plates one of which is made with an opening, a wick projecting into the space between said plates, and absorbent material disposed over the plate having the opening. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in-the presence of two subscribing witnesses. .t

r FREDERICK J. WILKES. Witnesses:

FRANCIS J. FITZPATRICK, WM. H. RYANJ 

